title: Applicability of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test - Third Edition (RBMT-3) in Korsakoff's syndrome and chronic alcoholics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the applicability of the newly developed Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test - Third Edition (RBMT-3) as an ecologically-valid memory test in patients with alcohol-related cognitive disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  An authorized Dutch translation of the RBMT-3 was developed, equivalent to the UK version, and administered to a total of 151 participants - 49 patients with amnesia due to alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome, 49 patients with cognitive impairment and a history of chronic alcoholism, not fulfilling the Korsakoff criteria, and 53 healthy controls. Between-group comparisons were made at subtest level, and the test's diagnostic accuracy was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Korsakoff patients performed worse than controls on all RBMT-3 subtests (all P-values < 0.0005). The alcoholism group performed worse than controls on most (all P-values < 0.02), but not all RBMT-3 subtests. Largest effects were found between the Korsakoff patients and the controls after delayed testing. The RBMT-3 had good sensitivity and adequate specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RBMT-3 is a valid test battery to demonstrate everyday memory deficits in Korsakoff patients and non-Korsakoff patients with alcohol abuse disorder. Korsakoff patients showed an impaired performance on subtests relying on orientation, contextual memory and delayed testing. Our findings provide valuable information for treatment planning and adjustment in patients with alcohol-related cognitive impairments.
authors.affiliation: Korsakoff Clinic, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Herten
authors.forename: Jos Im
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Roy Pc
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kessels
keywords: Korsakoff’s syndrome; alcohol-induced persisting amnestic disorder; ecological validity; episodic memory; neuropsychological assessment; treatment outcome